Presentation by Alison White, looking at packaging, pesticides and additives

What do we need to be aware of with food packaging? Some paper and plastic leave contaminants in our food, as a recent Government survey has revealed. Which food is more likely to contain pesticides in NZ? Results from the Total Diet Study released this year will be discussed. Which additives is it better to avoid, especially for children, but also for adults?Enquiries, email alison@safefood.org.nz or phone (04) 476 4953

Chemicals from plastic and paper packaging leaching into foodSome packaging leaves contaminants in our food, as a recent NZ Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI) survey has found out. The MPI have concluded the residues of printing ink and phthalates (used to soften plastic) found are of no concern. However we prefer to take the precautionary approach: if in doubt, leave it out. In the little sampling that was done, residues were found in fresh meat wrapped in cling on polystyrene trays, a tub of canola oil spread (with a carcinogen DETX), noodles served in plastic bowls, pizza (from boxes), among others. A task you can do is to ask your supermarket not to wrap fresh meat, vegetables or fruit in plastic and cut down on the plastic in your life. It helps reduce any potential health risk AND helps the environment by reducing plastic waste. Read further in a Radio NZ article http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/341471/research-details-packaging-chemicals-found-in-food

RoundupNews

Roundup, the most widely used herbicide in the world, has been in the news again. A study has found a 500% increase of glyphosate, the active ingredient of Roundup, in urine over a 23 year period. In NZ in September it was revealed that glyphosate was in 26 out of 60 wheat samples (see our Facebook posting 16 September). As the European Union moves closer to banning it because of health concerns, explosive documents have been revealed showing Monsanto concealed risks and distorted science in efforts to persuade regulatory authorities not to do anything about Roundup. In NZ our authorities assume that using this herbicide in parks, roads and farms doesn't harm people and the environment and that a little bit of a carcinogen, mutagen and endocrine disruptor in our food is of no concern. Read a German perspective http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/monsanto-papers-reveal-company-covered-up-cancer-concerns-a-1174233.html.

The Safe Food Campaign is a nationwide organisation which campaigns for safer, healthier food. We provide consumers with information so that they can make up their own minds about what is safe to eat. We lobby government to make our food safer.